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Updated: Dec 7, 2025
05:12
Swimming Performance Assessment in Fishes
Published on: May 20, 2011
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Temperature-Dependent Swimming Performance Differs by Species: Implications for Condition-Specific Competition
Taihei Yamada1,2, Itsuro Koizumi3, Hirokazu Urabe4
1Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan, thymd8@gmail.com.
Zoological Science
|September 25, 2020
Summary
Dolly Varden charr outperform white-spotted charr in cold water, demonstrating how temperature-specific swimming ability drives species distribution and coexistence in streams.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Ichthyology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Condition-specific competition influences species distribution, with congeneric charrs in Hokkaido exhibiting distinct habitat preferences based on water temperature.
- Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) dominate colder streams, while white-spotted charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis) prefer warmer waters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of water temperature on the swimming ability of Dolly Varden and white-spotted charr.
- To clarify the advantages of Dolly Varden in colder temperatures, complementing existing knowledge on white-spotted charr at higher temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a stamina tunnel to assess the swimming performance of Dolly Varden and white-spotted charr.
- Compared swimming abilities at two distinct water temperatures: 6°C (cold) and 12°C (warm).
Main Results:
- At 6°C, Dolly Varden exhibited significantly greater swimming ability compared to white-spotted charr.
- No significant difference in swimming ability was observed between the two charr species at 12°C.
Conclusions:
- Swimming ability in these congeneric charrs is temperature-dependent, providing a mechanism for condition-specific competition.
- Differential swimming performance at varying temperatures explains the coexistence of Dolly Varden and white-spotted charr in heterogeneous stream habitats.
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